Melodrama with a prologue and three acts
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, after the play by Antonio Garcia y Gutiérrez,
new version Arrigo BoitoFirst performed March 12th 1857, Teatro La Fenice, Venice 2nd version first perfomed 2nd March 24th 1881 La Scala, Milan

Sung in Italian with German surtitles Duration: c. 3 hrs incl. one interval

About the Piece

The sea! What magic it held for Verdi! In Otello and Boccanegra this element is portrayed in the orchestra to great ...

The sea! What magic it held for Verdi! In Otello and Boccanegra this element is portrayed in the orchestra to great effect.
Simon Boccanegra is, without doubt, one of Giuseppe Verdi most political works. His and Arrigo Boito's second edition was performed for the first time in 1881. Here, for the first time, Verdi brought the »colore storico e locale« of Grand opéra he discovered in Paris to the Italian stage, to colour the tragic fate of a ruler, patriotism and paternal love. Dallapiccola thought Verdi's blending of nature with the characters' emotions unique in the history of Italian opera. The sea, its constant movement, are beautifully mirrored in Amelia's aria, the a cappella chorus and Boccanegra's monologue.

Synopsis

Civil war in Genoa. Boccanegra, a corsair, is the new Doge. He hopes that Fiesco will now allow him to marry his daughter Maria, w ...

Civil war in Genoa. Boccanegra, a corsair, is the new Doge. He hopes that Fiesco will now allow him to marry his daughter Maria, who has already born him a daughter who is being raised by a foster mother. Fiesco agrees on condition that he hands the child over to him. Boccanegra says that the foster mother’s home was attacked and the child has vanished. Fiesco has not told him that Maria is dead. 25 years later: Maria, now Amelia, has grown up with the Grimaldis and is love with Gabriele Adorno, an aristocrat. Boccanegra comes to ask her to marry Paolo Albani, leader of the people’s party. During their conversation he realises that she is his lost daughter. They are overjoyed. Paolo, furious that the wedding is off, persuades Adorno to kill the Doge by saying that Amelia is the Doge's lover. He also puts poison in Boccanegra’s drinking water. The Doge knows that Adorno plans to kill him. Maria tells her father that she loves Adorno. Needing time to think this over, Boccanegra drinks some water. He wakes to find Adorno, armed. He tells him that he is Amelia's father. Adorno feels ashamed that he doubted Amelia and Doge. There is fighting in the streets. Adorno promises to join the Doge’s side and negotiate peace. The people have won. Paolo is sentenced to death for his duplicity. Fiesco, who came to witness the Doge’s suffering, finds out that Amelia is his granddaughter. They make peace. Boccanegra takes his farewell from his daughter, naming Adorno as his successor. Boccanegra dies.